the little big things.

I was finally able to catch back up on reading Tara Whitney's blog(love her!) and her Jan. 21 post really stuck with me today... it's all about the "little big things" in our lives. Those little things we have that we love. The things that may seem like "nothing" to other people but that we have come to rely on or just the little things we have around us that make us happy or feel good when we look at them.

I was at a loss today for what to post, so I looked around me to see what "little big things" I have in my home that are important to me (other than the kids, of course).

I'd like to share something very dear to me with you. She may not look like much, but I think she is beautiful.

When I was a new little baby, almost 30 years ago, I had a "Japanese grandma" named Su who lived next door to us. Su adored me from the day I was born and immediately began calling me her granddaughter. She loved my BIG American eyes! She used to comment to my parents all the time how big and lovely my eyes were, and that "her children just had slits!"

Su made these dolls for me by hand. I am still amazed at the detail that she put into them.

Sadly, we moved out of that state and away from my "grandma Su" when I was 3 so I don't really have any memories of her, aside from these dolls and the stories my mom has told me. I don't even know whatever became of my "Japanese grandma", if she is even still alive or not.

Here are my two Japanese dolls:


A closer view of the large doll's face (hand painted!):


And here is a closer view of the small doll (she is about 3 inches tall):


So... what are the "little big things" in your life?